Computational simulation of the effect of crystallization inhibitors on salt transport and crystallization in porous materials

Computational simulation of salt transport and crystallization in limestone depending on the presence of crystallization inhibitor in the dissolved salt is presented. The diffusion-advection model is used for the basic description of coupled water and salt transport, taking into account both water movement due to the moisture gradient and diffusion and dispersion effects within the liquid phase due to the concentration gradient. Salt crystallization in the porous body is modelled using an equilibrium model, taking into account the effect of crystallization inhibition. The effect of salt bonding on the pore walls is taken into account as well. The results of numerical simulations using a well calibrated computational model give evidence that in the analyzed case the use of crystallization inhibitors leads to the slowing down of both water and salt transport.